CSH applauds the bipartisan passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which cleared the U.S. House of Representatives this week by a vote of 358-32 and now heads to the President’s desk. The Senate passed the same legislation on June 22 by a vote of 85–5.
The strong bipartisan support for this legislation reflects a shared recognition that communities across the country need more affordable housing options and practical solutions to address persistent housing shortages. CSH looks forward to the President signing the landmark legislation.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is the most comprehensive federal housing legislation in a generation. The bill gives communities stronger tools to build and preserve affordable housing including reauthorizing the HOME program that local partners rely on, making homes easier to finance and develop, and clearing the red tape that slows projects and drives up costs. These are practical changes that will help more people find a home they can afford.
“When communities have the tools to build more affordable housing, everyone benefits,” said Deb DeSantis, President and CEO of CSH. “For people with disabilities and complex health needs with extremely low incomes, access to stable housing can be life changing. The bipartisan passage of this legislation is an important step toward expanding housing opportunities and helping more people find a stable place to call home and to thrive.”
Supportive housing relies on many of the same financing tools, development processes, and local resources that support affordable housing development more broadly. By strengthening those systems and reducing barriers, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will help communities expand housing opportunities and create more pathways to stability for people who need them most.
This legislation is an important step forward and demonstrates what is possible when leaders come together around practical, bipartisan solutions to housing challenges. We commend the bipartisan leadership that carried this bill through the Senate, including Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). We are proud to have worked with Rep. Mike Flood and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, chairman and ranking member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, along with House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters, whose partnership helped bring this moment within reach.
We encourage Congress to build on this progress by continuing to advance bipartisan policies that expand supportive housing opportunities and help people with disabilities and complex health needs remain stably housed in their communities. CSH looks forward to partnering with communities across the country to ensure these new tools help create more supportive housing where it is needed most.
Nationally, there are significant state by state differences when accessing behavioral health services and residential care under Medicaid. This infographic will provide vital information and guidance for health centers to understand how to refer and connect patients to essential behavioral health services.
Effective emergency response management that prioritizes patient outcomes depends on health centers understanding of available resources and their capacity to efficiently deploy resources. This publication increases awareness of available resources and best practice strategies for initiating or improving health centers capacity to ensure patient linkage to care and continued engagement following a natural disaster.
This webinar and infographic enhance understanding of systems and point-of-care data practices. Analyzing national best practices of data and person-directed approaches to initiate and deepen data practices on the systems and point-of-care level, to improve health outcomes, and to incorporate patient voice and agency in data collection, sharing, and decision-making.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is seeking an experienced Washington, DC-based federal lobbyist to partner on Congressional engagement related to FY2027 federal appropriations impacting supportive housing. CSH continues to build Congressional relationships and seeks a lobbying partner to complement this work by expanding reach to additional offices and committees, facilitating targeted Hill engagement, and delivering timely appropriations intelligence to advance CSH’s funding priorities.
Background
CSH is the national leader in supportive housing. For more than 30 years, we have advanced affordable housing paired with essential services, including substance use, mental health, and eviction mitigation, to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness achieve housing stability. Active in over 300 communities, CSH has supported the creation of more than 385,000 homes and generated billions in economic activity.
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), CSH has invested over $1.2 billion in affordable and supportive housing and critical community infrastructure over the past decade. We work closely with lawmakers and community leaders to advance evidence-based, cost-effective, and non-partisan policy solutions that improve housing outcomes nationwide.
Scope of Work
The selected lobbyist will work in close partnership with CSH’s policy team to support Congressional engagement related to FY2027 federal appropriations impacting supportive housing.
Congressional Outreach & Engagement
Conduct targeted outreach to Members of Congress and key staff in the House and Senate, with an emphasis on appropriations committees and relevant subcommittees and key members who can influence decision makers.
Expand CSH’s reach to additional Congressional offices and committees beyond existing relationships.
Facilitate and coordinate meetings between CSH leadership/staff and Congressional offices.
Support engagement with both majority and minority staff, as appropriate.
Appropriations Advocacy
Advance CSH’s FY2027 appropriations priorities through direct Congressional engagement.
Identify champions to support funding targets and favorable report language aligned with CSH’s goals.
Provide guidance on appropriations timing, procedural developments, and key decision points.
Intelligence & Issue Monitoring
Provide timely, actionable intelligence on appropriations negotiations, committee activity, and Congressional dynamics relevant to supportive housing.
Monitor appropriations negotiations, committee activity, and Congressional dynamics to identify emerging risks, opportunities, or shifts relevant to CSH’s priorities.
Monitor relevant hearings, markups, and legislative developments as needed.
Coordination with CSH
Coordinate closely with CSH staff to align Congressional outreach efforts conducted by CSH and partner organizations to ensure consistent messaging and policy positions.
Provide tactical support for CSH‑led advocacy efforts, including pressure‑testing messaging for Congressional audiences, advising on messaging for specific offices or committee staff, adapting content for oral or written delivery, and flagging potential messaging risks.
Reporting & Communication
Share updates that synthesize relevant Congressional activity, intelligence, and engagement outcomes.
Participate in regular check-ins with CSH staff, with cadence and format mutually agreed upon.
Desired Qualifications
CSH seeks a federal lobbyist or lobbying firm with demonstrated experience supporting Congressional appropriations advocacy in a non-partisan, evidence-based manner. Ideal candidates will bring strong relationships, practical knowledge of the appropriations process, and the ability to work collaboratively alongside an in-house policy team.
Desired qualifications include:
Demonstrated experience engaging Congress on federal appropriations, particularly within committees and subcommittees relevant to affordable housing development, housing finance, homelessness, or human services.
Ability to operate effectively in a non-partisan policy environment, advancing funding priorities grounded in data, cost-effectiveness, and program outcomes.
Experience expanding access to new Congressional offices and strengthening engagement beyond an organization’s existing relationships.
Familiarity with the federal budget and appropriations cycle, including timing, procedural dynamics, and key decision points.
Demonstrated ability to provide practical, actionable intelligence to inform advocacy efforts.
Clear communication style and ability to convey complex appropriations dynamics concisely and usefully.
CSH welcomes responses from both firms and individual consultants with the capacity and relationships to effectively support this work.
Submission Requirements
Submissions should include the following components:
Relevant Experience and Relationships
A brief description of experience supporting Congressional appropriations advocacy,
Summary of relevant relationships with Members of Congress and Congressional staff, including appropriations committees and subcommittees with a particular focus on the majority, and
Experience working in a non-partisan policy environment, particularly on housing, homelessness, or related issues
Proposed Approach
Description of how the respondent would support CSH’s FY2027 appropriations advocacy, with an emphasis on:
Congressional engagement
Expanding reach to additional offices and committees
Cultivating champions for appropriations requests
Explanation of how the respondent would work in partnership with CSH’s internal policy team
Staffing and Capacity
Identification of the individual(s) who would lead and support this work
Brief bios or summaries of relevant experience
Expected level of involvement by senior staff
Reporting and Communication
Proposed approach to communication and reporting, including:
Suggested cadence and format for updates
How time-sensitive developments would be communicated
Reporting should be scaled to support effective coordination and decision-making without unnecessary burden
Cost Proposal
Proposed fee structure (e.g., monthly retainer or other approach)
Description of what is included in the proposed cost
Any assumptions that inform the proposed pricing
Evaluation Criteria
Responses will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Relevant Congressional and Appropriations Experience
Demonstrated experience supporting federal appropriations advocacy.
Familiarity with the Congressional appropriations process, committees, and key decision points relevant to supportive housing and related programs.
Strength of Congressional Relationships
Depth and relevance of existing relationships with Members of Congress and Congressional staff.
Demonstrated access to and credibility with majority staff and Members of Congress.
Ability to expand CSH’s reach to additional offices and committees beyond existing relationships.
Ability to cultivate champions for appropriations ask.
Non‑Partisan Approach and Credibility
Ability to operate effectively in a non‑partisan policy environment.
Experience advancing funding priorities grounded in evidence, program outcomes, and cost‑effectiveness.
Alignment with CSH’s commitment to pragmatic, solutions‑oriented advocacy.
Proposed Approach and Fit
Clarity and practicality of the proposed approach to supporting CSH’s FY2027 appropriations advocacy.
Demonstrated understanding of the collaborative nature of the engagement, including working alongside CSH policy staff and broader advocacy network.
Communication and Responsiveness
Ability to provide timely, actionable intelligence and concise updates.
Clear, effective communication style that supports coordination and decision‑making.
Cost and Value
Reasonableness of proposed costs in relation to the scope of work.
Overall value and efficient use of resources.
Submission Instructions & Key Dates
Responses to this Request for Proposals should be submitted electronically.
Format: PDF preferred; a single file is encouraged
Subject Line: “CSH FY2027 Congressional Lobbying RFP – [Name of firm or individual]”
Questions regarding this RFP may be submitted to Kara Mergl at [email protected] by May 25th, 2026. Responses to questions may be shared with all respondents, as appropriate.
CSH reserves the right to request additional information, conduct interviews with selected respondents, and accept or reject any or all submissions. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate CSH to award a contract.
Please note that CSH requires subcontractors, including individuals and sole proprietors, to carry workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance while performing work under a CSH subcontract. CSH subcontractors cannot have existing, pending or expired debarments that preclude them from doing business with the United States government and cannot have convictions for, nor have any pending indictments for, fraud or a criminal offense in connection with a public contract or subcontract.
Welcome to the inaugural post of the new CSH Tech Corner Series! Through this series, we will regularly share news, product features, interviews, and case studies that highlight the impact of technology on the supportive housing field. We hope you find it useful and welcome your ideas as we continue to build out this series.
We Held an Exploratory Convening on Technology and Supportive Housing
Technological innovations, especially those powered with Artificial Intelligence (AI), are advancing so rapidly that it can be challenging for the supportive housing field to thoughtfully evaluate, test, and adopt them. While adopting new technology can be challenging, providers can use these tools to enhance the tenant experience in supportive housing and make it easier for program staff to do their work. Implementing strong data governance policies to protect both client and staff health and personal information can increase staff confidence in using these tools.
In response to the rapid transformation of technology, CSH recently convened a couple dozen supportive housing and homeless system partners who are leaders and/or knowledgeable about the technology and software systems used in the field. These tools include Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and other platforms that help with housing placement, case management, and more. From these conversations, we synthesized key learnings to share with the field.
Top Use Cases to Consider Prioritizing
Benefits Counseling and Activation: A common barrier to tenant employment is concern about losing disability benefits, especially health insurance. Tools that automate benefits counseling and enrollment could support continuous eligibility and help tenants pursue employment goals. This is especially important as federal support for these programs declines.
Digital Tools and Client-Facing Portals: There is movement toward consumer-facing digital solutions, but success depends on offering low-tech options and ensuring accessibility for populations with varying digital skills. For example, some clients do not have access to digital devices, email accounts, mobile devices, or regular internet access.
Documentation and Workforce Productivity: Technology-enabled documentation tools can reduce administrative burden, increase productivity, and help mitigate staff burnout. The overarching goal for implementing AI should be to alleviate administrative workloads, especially documentation. However, due to capacity issues there are challenges adoption and workflow integration.
Text-Based Support and Telehealth Adjuncts: Providers are increasingly using automated texting services (e.g., appointment reminders, check-ins, and support), especially for crisis intervention (such as local 24/7 call-in lines or the centralized 988 hotline). However, concerns about platform privacy and security need further consideration.
Automated and Streamlined Consent Processes: Automating care coordination consent, through standardized Releases of Information across partner agencies, can help bridge communication and legal barriers.
Client Access to Accurate Information: Ensuring clients receive precise and relevant healthcare information remains a priority, with an emphasis on solutions tailored to their specific needs. There is ongoing discussion about how tenants feel regarding the use of AI for documentation, underscoring the importance of transparency and trust. Providers should also be aware of each client’s digital usage, comfort, and literacy and incorporate organization-wide guidelines for technology adoption and change management. Not all populations are technology savvy, so providers should consider solutions that align technology literacy with innovation.
Data Quality Tools: AI can be used to improve data quality at the point of entry by flagging duplicates, identifying overlapping enrollments, and adding context.
Decision Support Tools: AI can be used for tenant matching and prioritization, as well as decision support.
Interoperability: Interoperable digital health platforms that securely exchange information across health, justice, and housing systems will be important for improving health and housing outcomes.
Testing and Evaluating Emerging Digital Tools
CSH is reviewing and evaluating a range of digital tools to better understand their impact on supportive housing. These include tools that screen, assess, and prioritize tenants for housing, as well as tools that support service documentation.
Examples include:
HMIS platforms that offer built-in or customizable tools for supportive housing, such as Caseworthy, ClientTrack, Bitfocus’ Clarity, and WellSky Community Services.
Machine learning approaches used by Utah and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to prioritize tenants using justice, child welfare, health, and other public system usage data.
Case notes tools and platforms, including CARA, Elios AI, and Ambient AI for notetaking
Leasing tools, such as Padmission, which enables grant administration, referrals and lease-up, compliance, inspection, and other operational functions.
Electronic health records for claims and service provision, as well as other digital health monitoring tools. While promising, integration, user adoption, and interoperability are still big challenges.
Ongoing support and external funding are critical for bridging these gaps.
Opportunities to Enhance and Improve the Built Environment Through Technology
Technology also presents opportunities to enhance the physical and operational aspects of supportive housing:
HUD now allows Wi-Fi as an eligible supportive services expense if requested by an owner through the 202 PRAC program, which could open the door to designating Wi-Fi as a utility in other HUD programs.
Most supportive housing tenants have broadband, and in some cases, health plans provide devices for clients (phones or tablets) that support telehealth use.
Affordable housing developers are using AI and cameras to capture reporting information required during the construction phase.
Asset managers increasingly rely on precise, automated reports to track the financial performance of a building, including utility consumption, insurance claims, replacement dates, etc.
AI-powered leasing agents are becoming more commonly used in the sector.
Key Issues Requiring Ongoing Attention
Legal and Privacy Barriers: Sharing Protected Health Information (PHI) across organizations remains a significant challenge due to varying requirements and complex release-of-information processes, especially for clients with multiple service providers.
Staff Concerns and Job Security: Staff have expressed fears about the use of AI, including worries about its broader impact and the possibility of job displacement.
Data Governance: The need for clear data governance policies came up in different contexts, such as AI use and cross-system data sharing. Partners pointed to a helpful resources from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement on AI governance.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Participants expressed the need for local or statewide systems to commit resources and attention to promoting adoption of technology tools that would improve the supportive housing environment—for both residents and program staff.
The convening group also requested that CSH identify and share best practices for data and AI governance with the field.
In response to these needs, CSH is releasing a Request for Proposals to help advance adoption and learning related to technology tools in supportive housing.
Acknowledgements
CSH extends its thanks to the following individuals who participated in our technology convening:
Mike Shore and Kevin McKee, Padmission
Michelle Norris, Nsights
Jennifer Wilson, ShopWorks
Gaither Stephens, Gaither Dynamics
Thomas Garda and Courtney Battle, Housing&
Sarah Scholle, Leavitt Partners
Ryan Hertz, Lighthouse
David Lewis, Caseworthy
Lars Benson, HKS Government Performance Lab
David Eberbach, Institute for Community Alliances
Jeff Ugai, Jim Sullivan and Sarah Dougherty, Bitfocus
Brian Paul and Jennifer Disbro, Adult and Child Health
Hannah Olson and Andrea Shields, National Church Residences
This framework helps hiring managers, job seekers, organization leaders, and new program planners understand the different roles in supportive housing. It highlights core skills that supportive housing staff need to be successful housing and services providers. This resource is designed to help with onboarding/mentoring staff, designing roles and programs, and identifying organization-wide training needs.
Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) applauds the recent federal court rulings that have upheld the integrity of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) homelessness funding program and reaffirmed the longstanding statutory and evidence-based foundation for supportive housing. These decisions recognize what providers, communities, and people with lived experience have long known: supportive housing is a proven, effective, and essential tool for reducing homelessness and promoting stability for people with the most complex needs.
The courts’ careful consideration of both the law and the real-world impacts of abrupt policy shifts underscores the importance of stability and predictability in homelessness systems. Sudden changes to CoC funding and program rules do not occur in a vacuum. They ripple outward, putting tenants at risk, destabilizing providers, delaying payments, disrupting services, and threatening hard-won housing outcomes. The rulings acknowledge that these harms are not theoretical, but immediate and profound.
Supportive housing works because it combines affordable housing with voluntary, flexible services tailored to people’s needs. Decades of research and practice demonstrate that this model reduces returns to homelessness, improves health and behavioral health outcomes, and lowers reliance on costly emergency systems. The model also is a cornerstone of many communities’ strategies to address chronic homelessness and prevent repeated housing instability.
While these court decisions are an important step, they do not eliminate the need for continued advocacy. Congress and the Administration play a vital role in shaping homelessness policy and funding. It is essential that they, like the courts, are fully informed by evidence and on-the-ground experience. Policymakers must understand the effectiveness of supportive housing, the risks of destabilizing existing programs, and the harmful consequences when funding systems are thrown into uncertainty.
CSH urges providers, partners, and advocates to remain engaged, to share data, elevate lived experience, and communicate clearly about what works and why. Together, we must continue to make the case that protecting and strengthening supportive housing is not only consistent with federal law but is one of the most effective ways to reduce homelessness, promote recovery and dignity, and use public resources responsibly.
We are grateful for the leadership of providers and partners across the country and remain committed to working alongside you to ensure that supportive housing remains a central, well-supported component of our national response to homelessness.
For more than 30 years, supportive housing has transformed lives. The CSH Operations Clinic helps ensure properties continue to thrive by strengthening day-to-day operations and long-term sustainability. This one-pager describes the clinic and how it helps improve performance, stabilize operations, and better support tenants.
The CSH Supportive Housing Need tool provides communities with system‑level data on supportive housing needs across populations and systems, informing policy and program design. It also provides financial modeling at the state and local levels, allowing communities to estimate the capital, services, and operating costs to make data-driven decisions that demonstrate the effectiveness and value of sustaining supportive housing.
